Chapter 179

Chapter 179

I Proposed While Drunk and Now the Princesses are Obsessed.

Episode 179: Steeplechasing, Double-dealing, And Unfair Trade (1)

The chaotic gray aura that had been swirling around Jaekiel was now gathered. His power had reached a new level.

“It doesn’t seem like an ordinary cold, does it?”

Seina said, observing Jaekiel closely.

“It’s cold, but it’s mixed with heat, and there’s a strangely sharp edge to it. It feels like three different auras are blended together…”

Jaekiel simply nodded slightly.

“You saw it correctly.”

“Of course, Teacher. It seems I always have more to learn!”

Jaekiel smiled bitterly. It would be impossible to wield such ice without accepting other auras.

Jaekiel and the two women immediately began to move.

Originally, his solo mission had been announced, but in reality, it wasn’t the case. Elder Seina of the Blue Tower and Anes volunteered to join him.

After much deliberation, Jaekiel accepted.

‘This is also their issue.’

Both Seina and Anes had been directly betrayed by the Purple Tower. It was not without reason that they wanted to take revenge with their own hands.

Of course, the women had followed him more out of concern for him, but he didn’t know that.

“The Purple Tower still carries that arrogant attitude.”

Anes said, fiddling with her cube.

“Surely, they must know that real movements have started with the Imperial Tower’s suggestion for a joint mission. Yet, they remain confident.”

“In simpler terms, they’re not afraid of the Imperial Tower or the punishment. I heard they called in their elite forces, so they probably put great faith in that.”

Seina clicked her tongue as she spoke. It seemed that just thinking of the Purple Tower disgusted her.

The Purple Tower certainly had a cocky air about it.

After betraying them, the Purple Tower boldly suggested a joint mission with the Imperial Tower. They knew this was a trap, yet they gladly accepted.

It seemed they had prepared an even greater scheme.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

However, Jaekiel said it anyway.

“Their elite forces are no problem.”

It wasn’t just empty encouragement.

He was ready. It was now time for punishment.

Outside the capital of the Empire.

Jaekiel and his group ran toward their destination without rest, as time was of the essence.

The Zeroth Princess, Akne, was still struggling in pain at this very moment, so they had to hurry.

“Anes, how much farther?”

“We’re on the right path. The terrain is just rough…”

Jaekiel quietly nodded at those words.

“These guys really hid themselves well.”

It was terrain that could be called hazardous.

Sheer cliffs, waist-high grass, bare branches hanging low, and humid heat…

It was perfect for keeping humans out.

Jaekiel asked Anes.

“When is the Purple Tower supposed to arrive?”

“I don’t know.”

The psychological battle of this joint mission was centered around this.

Normally, joint missions start with everyone gathering together, but this time, it was different. They had agreed to meet at separate destinations.

‘Could they possibly arrive later than us?’

The Imperial Tower had sent a message to the Purple Tower as soon as they departed, stating that they had already left. There was no way they hadn’t read it.

It was strange that the energy of the Purple Tower could not be felt at all.

“Could the Purple Tower be trying to start a battle of nerves by showing up late?”

“Based on their actions so far, it’s a possibility.”

Anes responded reluctantly.

“Then let’s hurry even more. If the Purple Tower is late, we can hold them accountable for that as well.”

“We share the same thoughts as you, Auditor.”

The women nodded toward Jaekiel and increased their speed, extending their mana behind them as they surged forward swiftly.

Whooooosh!

They barreled forward, breaking through the obstacles of the rugged terrain without hesitation.

Punishing the Purple Tower, saving Akne, and preparing for a confrontation with the Emperor… This mission was of utmost importance, and there was no reason to hesitate.

Naturally, Jaekiel was the fastest, but surprisingly, Anes and Seina weren’t too far behind.

Although they showed signs of fatigue, they gritted their teeth and kept pushing forward, determined not to fall behind.

Jaekiel couldn’t help but be impressed by their determination, so he quietly remarked.

“You’ve made progress in your mana control while I wasn’t looking.”

“Would it be anything less than for you, Auditor?”

Even as Anes and Seina were drenched in sweat, Jaekiel felt invigorated. He could feel his own rising power, and he wasn’t even tired from this level of running.

How much longer had they been running like this?

“…”

Suddenly, as if they had agreed upon it, the three stopped. They felt a strange aura approaching them.

It felt like a dark and sharp energy was waiting right there, gripping their shoulders.

Jaekiel was now familiar with such a sharp yet refined energy. He didn’t know why it was here, but he felt he knew whose it was.

“…Seina, Anes.”

Jaekiel quietly called out the names of the two women.

“Yes. I felt it too.”

“It feels like a demon, but the aura is overwhelming. I couldn’t feel anything like this even in the underground maze.”

“Of course. It’s the Demon Lord’s.”

At that, an immediate silence fell.

Perhaps Jaekiel’s words had shocked them, as both Anes and Seina’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Did you just say the Demon Lord?”

“…The Demon Lord? You mean the actual Demon Lord?”

Jaekiel, certain that his senses hadn’t been wrong, nodded reluctantly at their questions.

“One thing’s for sure, it’s the Demon Lord.”

“What is the Demon Lord doing here? She wouldn’t come just to protect the hideout of some minor forces.”

“Perhaps she has business with us.”

“Business? You don’t mean a battle, do you?”

“Seeing how she’s suppressing her demonic energy, it seems like she has another goal. Let’s hope that’s the case.”

Jaekiel spoke openly about his feelings.

If the Demon Lord wanted to take the lives of Jaekiel and his group, she wouldn’t have revealed her demonic energy like this. She would have ambushed them immediately.

Sssss.

The sharp demonic energy still tapped lightly on Jaekiel’s shoulder. It felt close, but it was difficult to discern the Demon Lord’s true intentions.

‘Does this mean she wants me to approach?’

Whooooosh!

Jaekiel scattered his energy in an instant, blowing apart the obstacles around him and opening up his view.

As the vision expanded in a perfect circle, he spotted someone standing in the air, not too far away.

The person wore a translucent garment, almost see-through.

Their white hair looked like it had burned away everything, leaving only ashes. A blindfold covered their eyes, confirming Jaekiel’s guess.

It was the Demon Lord Valetta, just as he had expected.

However, a sense of discomfort soon washed over him.

‘…She has no eyes.’

When they had met recently in the Demon Realm, she had been near perfect, but now it was different. She had lost her eyes and wrapped a blindfold tightly, like bandages.

It was certain. She had lost them in her battle with the Emperor.

“Wait here.”

Jaekiel gave a short command to Seina and Anes, then quickly dashed ahead, directly approaching the Demon Lord.

They began to converse, in a distance only the two of them could hear.

“This continent is not land that you rule.”

While saying that, Jaekiel’s mind raced. Just how weakened had the Demon Lord become? Could he possibly face her in a direct confrontation?

With these concerns running through his mind, he continued speaking.

“What is it that you want?”

“…Han Shin, aren’t you also a true Demon God?”

Valetta slowly parted her lips.

What had happened to her eyes was unclear, but blood flowed from under the blindfold, streaming down like tears.

The sight was strangely dignified yet grotesque.

“I only came to ask about my Demon God.”

“It looks like you’ve suffered a great injury to your eyes. Who exactly is your Demon God? Open your eyes and get a grip.”

“Oh, this?”

Valetta smiled leisurely as she reached up and adjusted her blindfold. Despite the horrific appearance, she seemed unfazed by the pain.

“Your Emperor was rather difficult, huh? Without realizing it, my anger surged, and I sacrificed my eyes to use a ritual. I’m really quite emotional, you know.”

Jaekiel’s mind became heavy with thought.

If the Demon Lord was in this condition, it meant that the Emperor was likely in a serious state as well.

“So? Did you come to complain about losing your eyes?”

“Of course not!”

The Demon Lord grinned widely.

“I came to tell you something very, very, very good.”

Whoosh!

In the next moment, the Demon Lord was standing beside Jaekiel. He thought it was an ambush, but it wasn’t.

However…

She whispered quietly in Jaekiel’s ear.

“It’s about the Spider Goddess. I’ve got some information about her.”

At that, Jaekiel’s body immediately reacted.

“Information about the Spider Goddess?”

In the briefest moment, three energies began to swirl together in a gray whirlwind.

Immediately, an ice spear formed in his hand, different from the previous blue one. It now gleamed gray like a blade.

Screech.

It sliced through the air at an unbelievable speed.

“Shut up.”

The Demon Lord’s head was sent flying through the air.